News of the Day From Across the Globe

Chronicle News Services

Updated 11:00 pm, Saturday, January 5, 2013

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

News of the Day From Across the Globe

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

1 Deadly crash: Six Russians were killed and two seriously injured when a snowmobile towing a sled veered off an Italian ski slope at night, slammed into a barrier and flew through the air into a ravine. The accident occurred Friday at Mount Cermis in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northeast Italy. The ANSA news agency reported authorities were performing tests to determine if the snowmobile's driver - who survived the crash - was drunk. Prosecutors opened a probe to see if manslaughter charges should be filed.

2Rebels advance: Rebels in Central African Republic seized control of another town on Saturday, just days before they are to begin negotiations with the government. Alindao town was taken by rebels of the Seleka alliance, who now control 11 cities and towns, according to area residents. The insurgents had previously said they would halt their advances pending talks with President Francois Bozize's government, which are set to begin in Gabon on Tuesday. The new move casts doubt on the possible success of the talks.

3 Shooting rampage: A man described as having marital problems fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, after taking alcohol and drugs in a rampage Friday near the Philippine capital of Manila that ended when he was shot dead by police, officials said. At least eleven other people were wounded by Ronald Bea in Kawit township. On Saturday, police said they would charge a house caretaker who reloaded Bea's pistol with multiple counts of murder. John Paul Lopez told investigators that Bae, 41, had threatened to kill him if he did not reload the weapon, police said.

4 Flag protests: Northern Ireland police used water cannons to fend off brick-hurling protesters in Belfast on Saturday as violent demonstrations over flying the British flag continued. Protesters have been out in force since a decision last month by Belfast City Council to stop flying the British flag year-round. Such issues often inflame sectarian passions in Northern Ireland, where Protestants mainly want to stay in the United Kingdom and Catholics wish to unite with the Republic of Ireland. Many Protestants want the council to reverse its decision.

5 Ailing leader: Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, is responding to treatment and is recovering from a stroke suffered last month, his office said Saturday. A brief statement described Talabani's condition as "reassuring" and said doctors have started him on a course of rehabilitation. It did not say whether he is able to communicate. Talabani, 79, was flown to Germany for treatment more than two weeks ago. The Iraqi presidency is a largely ceremonial role, with the prime minister acting as the head of government. But Talabani has played an important role in mediating disputes among Iraq's ethnic and sectarian factions.

6 Militants killed: Indonesia antiterror police shot and killed five suspected Islamist militants in the latest assault against a network of extremists behind deadly attacks on officers, authorities said Saturday. The men were killed in raids Friday and Saturday on the island of Sumbawa, police said. Indonesia, a mostly Muslim country, has struggled against Islamist militants since its independence. At least 10 police officers have been killed in incidents around the country this year.